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Undoubtedly the most popular variety of the Buffalo nickel series is the 1937-D 3-Legged variety. This erroneous variety occurred in the aftermath of clashed dies, with a mint employee polishing away the damage perhaps too vigorously — the bison’s foremost leg was obliterated in the process. This minting blunder serendipitously created one of the hobby's most famous non-bronze error coins, one well known to many even beyond the numismatic crowd.
While there are no known mintage figures for the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo nickel, numismatic experts believe approximately 10,000 survive, with the vast majority of these extant in circulated grades. Interestingly, news of this variety hit the public early on, and many 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo nickels were pulled from circulation within months of their release, meaning a good deal of the circulated pieces range from XF40 to AU58. Still, fewer than 15% of these coins are known in uncirculated grades, and they are particularly rare above MS64.
Obverse Description
James Earle Fraser's famous and simple design depicts a Native American chief with the word LIBERTY from 1-2 o'clock. The date is placed on the lower left of the chieftain's bust.
Reverse Description
A full portrait of the bison, Black Diamond, with the words UNITED STATES oF AMERICA at the top periphery with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM just underneath. The denomination FIVE CENTS is spelled out at the bottom. For the Type 1, the denomination is embossed on a flat surface.
Catalog Information
GSID:
376679
Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Obverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Obverse Lettering:
LIBERTY, 1937
Reverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Reverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS
Weight (gr):
5 gr
Weight (oz):
0.1608 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
21.2
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Variety:
3 Legs
Variety 2:
FS-901
Coin Date:
1937-D
Denomination:
5c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Denver
Mint Mark:
D
Mintage:
17,826,000
Coinage Type:
Buffalo nickel
Coinage Years:
1913-1938
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
PCGS #:
38475
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Subject: I would like to contribute catalog info to CDN for 1937-D 5c 3 Legs, FS-901 MS
Body: Referring page: http://livetest.greysheet.com/prices/item/1937-d-5c-3-legs-fs-901-ms/gsid/376679 GSID: 376679 Title: 1937-D 5c 3 Legs, FS-901 MS
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Coin Value History
1937-D 5c 3 Legs, FS-901 MS
Value By Grade
1937-D 5c 3 Legs, FS-901 MS
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
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Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS67 |
|
$132,000 | $1,234 |
| MS67 | - | $102,000 | $1,234 |
| MS66 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 1 Reverse, 1913 MS [Type]
![Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 1 Reverse, 1913 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/Catalog/20220224/www_davidlawrence_com_product_2199064_-0.20220224083111332.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $7 – $16,000
1913 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $7 – $16,000
1913-D 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $13 – $40,200
1913-S 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $16 – $19,200
Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 2 Reverse, 1913-1938 MS [Type]
![Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 2 Reverse, 1913-1938 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/26d-3l-obv.jpeg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $1 – $4,800
1913 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $7 – $3,600
1913-D 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $80 – $36,000
1913-S 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $140 – $30,000
1914 5c MS
Worth: $12 – $4,020
1914/(3) 5c MS
Worth: $150 – $50,000
1914-D 5c MS
Worth: $70 – $21,600
1914-S 5c MS
Worth: $22 – $75,000
1915 5c MS
Worth: $4 – $9,600
1915-D 5c MS
Worth: $13 – $18,000
1915-S 5c MS
Worth: $38 – $50,000
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF25 PCGS. CDN: $785 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF25. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$976
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VG10 PCGS. CDN: $520 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VG10. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$561
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU55 PCGS. CDN: $1,725 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$2,074
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU58 PCGS. ...
$2,562
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS64 PCGS. ...
$7,930
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, XF40 NGC. Formerly FS-020.2. CDN: $900 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF40. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,068
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF35 PCGS. CDN: $840 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF35. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$976
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS62 NGC. ...
$7,320
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, Fine 12 PCGS. CDN: $500 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Fine 12. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$610
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF30 ANACS. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$885
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU50 ANACS. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,129
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS61 NGC. ...
$2,928
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS66 NGC. ...
$26,840
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, XF45 PCGS. CAC. CDN: $1,020 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,342
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF20 PCGS. CAC. CDN: $690 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF20. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,037
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU53 PCGS. CDN: $1,200 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 17,826,000....
$1,388
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, Good 6 ANACS. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$420
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS63 PCGS....
$4,812
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS65+ PCGS. CAC....
$33,600
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VG8 NGC. NGC Census: (50/7695). Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$480
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